Dave Mustaine on Cancer Diagnosis: “It Doesn’t Have Any Power Over Me Anymore”
Cancer is a scary, fucked up thing, so it’s always good when anyone comes out the other end alive and well. Such is the case with Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine, who had been diagnosed with throat cancer in May 2019.
While speaking with The Irish Times, Mustaine said his battle with cancer made a major impact on his life both on the stage and in person. Now nearly three years after getting word from his doctor that he was in the clear, he’s able to reflect on how he got to this stage without having his livelihood affected
“We worked really hard on all of the treatment and on the nutrition and all the personal stuff that I had to do outside the hospital. The doctors set up this really brutal program to address the cancer. They wanted to kill it without having to do any surgery.
“I told the doctors that I was a little concerned that Eddie Van Halen had part of his tongue cut out. Bruce Dickinson — the IRON MAIDEN lead singer — and [actor] Michael Douglas had got it too, and I was part of the club. We had a great program.
“My doctors are really great. Whenever anybody goes to see a doctor and gives you the all-clear for your health, you are usually really, really grateful.
“It doesn’t have any power over me anymore. I want to make sure that people don’t get discouraged when they hear news like that. I went to two doctors in Tennessee, and they knew how important it was for me to continue singing.”
Mustaine has been making the interview circuit for a while now in preparation of their upcoming album titled The Sick, The Dying…And The Dead!, which drops September 2. The record is currently available for pre-save and pre-order.
Megadeth’s The Sick, The Dying…And The Dead!:
- The Sick, The Dying…And The Dead!
- Life In Hell
- Night Stalkers (feat. Ice T)
- Dogs of Chernobyl
- Sacrifice
- Junkie
- Psychopathy
- Killing Time
- Soldier On!
- Celebutante
- Missin to Mars
- We’ll Be Back
- Police Truck
- The Planet’s On Fire [Burn In Hell] (feat. Sammy Hagar)
The band is also currently on tour with Five Finger Death Punch and Fire From the Gods. You can catch that entire bill at one of the following dates:
w/ Five Finger Death Punch, Megadeth, Fire From The Gods
8/19 – Portland, OR – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater [tickets]
8/20 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheater [tickets]
8/23 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheater [tickets]
8/24 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheater [tickets]
8/26 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion [tickets]
8/27 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater [tickets]
8/30 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion [tickets]
9/1 – Del Valle, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater [tickets]
9/2 – Houston, TX –The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman [tickets]
9/6 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion [tickets]
9/7 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek [tickets]
9/9 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach [tickets]
9/10 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live [tickets]
9/12 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater [tickets]
9/14 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center [tickets]
9/15 – Camden, NJ – Waterfront Music Pavilion [tickets]
9/17 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater [tickets]
9/18 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center [tickets]
9/20 – Syracuse, NY – St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview [tickets]
9/21 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake [tickets]
9/23 – Scranton, PA – Pavilion at Montage Mountain [tickets]
9/24 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium [tickets]
9/27 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater [tickets]
9/28 –Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center [tickets]
9/30 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater [tickets]
10/1 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center [tickets]
10/4 – Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center [tickets]
10/5 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre [tickets]
10/7 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Summerfest Grounds [tickets]
10/8 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater [tickets]
10/10 – Atlanta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre [tickets]
10/12 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP [tickets]
10/14 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena [tickets]
10/15 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheater [tickets]
